COLLECTION OF OUTSTANDING CRIMINAL FINES

That this House believes that staff working in HM Courts Service criminal fine collection service provide a valuable service; notes that their role is necessary as they help to enforce justice in relation to the collection of fines for criminal offences; further notes that this is of benefit to the national economy bringing in valuable revenue; further believes that the number of court enforcement officers has dropped from 561 in 2005 to 497 in 2009; further notes that the Ministry of Justice has proposed plans to privatise criminal court enforcement of fines; is opposed to any privatisation of the collection of fines; further believes that privatisation of the collection of fines will allow private companies to target the most lucrative areas and will then see the number of fines uncollected increase and consequently reduce the amount of money generated for the economy; and calls on the Government to keep the collection of unpaid criminal fines in the public sector.